First Presbyterian Church
October 3, 2021
10:00 AM
Order of Worship
CALL
TO WORSHIP
How
does Jesus’ resurrection benefit us?
He
has overcome death and His resurrection is the pledge to our glorious resurrection.
So
then we are raised up to new life in Him.
And
we will join Jesus in the righteousness He has obtained for us.
Let
us worship the Living God.
*Hymn
of Praise: “Break Thou The Bread of Life”
1.
Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, as thou didst break the loaves
beside the sea; beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord; my spirit pants for
thee, O Living Word!
2.
Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me, as thou didst bless the bread by
Galilee; then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall; and I shall find my
peace, my all in all.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
God of mercy, in Jesus you modeled power through vulnerability,
and victory through sacrifice. But we live in a world that celebrates abundance
and might. God of grace, in Christ we find unhesitating welcome as siblings —
all children of One loving parent. But, if we’re honest with ourselves, there
are members of our human family we would rather avoid. God of love, reshape us
that we might be brave enough to show strength by sharing power, encourage us
that we might admit to ourselves our reluctance to acknowledge those across the
ocean, over the border, or just around the corner as our family. And reorient
us to the trailblazing example of Jesus, whose gift to us was sacrifice and
whose gracious embrace knows no bounds. Amen.
*SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Siblings in Christ, Our savior abandoned
the company of angels for this marvelous and messy world, and in his sacrifice
we find a fresh start for our relationship with God and with one another. May
we live into this new day; in Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven. Amen.
*THE GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As
it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
INVITATION: “Dear Lord, I need You, please come into my life
today. Amen”
INDRODUCTION TO THE TEXT
John 11: 1-27
The story of
the raising of Lazarus is the lead-in to “Holy Week” as laid out in the gospel
of John. In the next chapter, we have
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem recorded.
It seems that this miracle serves two purposes in the text. The first is to record the pinnacle of Jesus’
miraculous powers. The second is to
foreshadow Jesus’ own death and resurrection as the ultimate demonstration of
God’s powers, not simply to restore one man’s life, but to offer the potential
to restore the lives of all God’s children condemned by sin.
Our passage
today does not extend to the actual raising of Lazarus. Rather, the focus is on Jesus’ approach and
his conversation, especially with Martha.
He makes one of the most powerful declarative statements in his time on
earth to her. “I am the resurrection and
the life.” In the context of the
conversation, Martha believes that her brother will rise at the end of
time. But she also expressed her wish
that Jesus had come before his death to have healed Lazarus.
In Jesus’
reply, he is weaving together the expectations of God’s power and ministry
expressed in him. On the one hand, there
is the promise of resurrection for all humanity, but on the other, there is the
immediate expression of God’s power to return Lazarus from the grave.
One
particular expression of God’s wonder in this passage is that, even in the
power of resurrection, the feelings of humanity are not discounted. In the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus
wept”, his own grief is expressed along with that of Mary and Martha, despite
his knowledge of the coming miracle.
This is tension that we have in our funeral services to this day. On the one hand, we have faith in the power
of God. On the other, we have in our
Lord Jesus, our master and friend, who will walk with us in our pain and
tears.
In the story
arc of the gospel, this event is going to be a trigger event for the Jewish
leadership to accelerate their plans to get rid of Jesus. This miracle, accentuating the power of God,
is seen as a real threat to their own hold on power. As Lazarus is a living example of the power
that Jesus wields, their plans are going to include getting rid of him as well,
plans, as far as we know, that were never carried out.
LESSON:
John 11: 1-27
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of
Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped
his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent a
message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ 4But when Jesus heard it, he
said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so
that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ 5Accordingly, though Jesus
loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6after having heard that
Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea
again.’ 8The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying
to stone you, and are you going there again?’ 9Jesus answered, ‘Are there
not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble,
because they see the light of this world. 10But those who walk at night
stumble, because the light is not in them.’ 11After saying this, he told
them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken
him.’ 12The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he
will be all right.’ 13Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they
thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14Then Jesus told them
plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. 15For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may
believe. But let us go to him.’ 16Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his
fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been
in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had
come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus
was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord,
if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God
will give you whatever you ask of him.’ 23Jesus said to her, ‘Your
brother will rise again.’ 24Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection on the last day.’ 25Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the
life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and
believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ 27She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord,
I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into
the world.’
SERMON: “Defining a Resurrection Moment” Rev. Peter Hofstra
I was in the
middle of a busy day. All the usual
details of life were milling around.
Keeping ahead of things for church, anticipating my son’s driving test
for the coming week, some friends of ours suddenly impacted by multiple Covid
cases in the family, thinking about the people on my ‘preventative prayer
list’. Got one of those? Family and friends and acquaintances that are
routinely lifted to the Lord to protect them?
The back door
was open and there is a hanging basket back there with one of the hardiest and
prettiest flowers that we have ever purchased.
And there was something I had never seen before in our backyard. It was a hummingbird, feeding at the
flower. Now, I know we have hummingbirds
in the area. Our house is a few blocks
from where Joe and Ida Mae Rakos used to live, on a dead end that’s a little
more wooded, so they got them routinely.
But I’d never seen one in our yard.
It was a
moment. My biggest concern in that
moment was trying to open the back screen door quietly enough to take a picture
of it, something that would be far clearer than the shots I got through the
screen. Once that was done, taking those
moments to enjoy this part of nature that I have only seen on television. There was something magical about it.
It was a
throwback to my days in grade school when recess came at just the right time
during a crazy day. It struck me, in my
preparations for the sermon this morning, as a Resurrection moment.
What’s a
Resurrection moment? Well, its based on
Easter morning. Jesus rose from the dead
and everything was new and different and wonderful, the plan of God
accomplished. It is a moment we
celebrate in the church calendar once a year, but it is so much more than
that. It changes everything. And God has set us into a world where we will
have those moments, often times right when we did not know we needed them, to
remind us of just how amazing God is.
In our
passage today, we find Jesus on the cusp of providing a live action
resurrection moment. Jesus is about to
raise Lazarus from the dead. His friend
has been gone these four days and Jesus has just come down. Moved to tears by the grief that has struck
Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, before the miracle takes place, there
is some push back. Had Jesus come
sooner, he could have healed Lazarus.
But now…
Even now,
when Jesus assures Martha that Lazarus will rise again, she knows the long game
that Jesus is speaking of. She believes
that he will arise on the last day. But
Jesus focuses his response. “I am the
resurrection and the life,” he tells her, “Those who believe in me, though they
die, will live.” In the transcendent
power of God, two things are happening here.
On the one hand, Jesus confirms what Martha has already confessed. On the last day, the dead will rise. She believes in Jesus as the Messiah. But this passage also foreshadows what is
going to happen in only a few chapters.
The death and miraculous resurrection of Lazarus foreshadows Jesus’ own
death and resurrection. And that is not
something we simply recognize now. The
authorities also saw the tremendous power, both of God and of advertising, that
came in the resurrection of Lazarus. In
the very next chapter, they will plot to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus.
Notice what Jesus tells Martha. It is a two-fold declaration. “I am the resurrection AND the life.” A couple of weeks ago, our bible passage was
from the Prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament, the Song of the Suffering
Servant. That prophecy was fulfilled in
the time of its declaration. Remember,
Israel was in Exile in Babylon, convinced that the final judgement of God,
their destruction as a nation, had been carried out. But God gave them a way forward. That prophecy was also for us, for the
ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan. In
this case, it was in reference to Jesus’ suffering and death for our sins.
We can hear
this prophetic voice in Jesus’ words too.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life, her understanding of that truth
is in the ultimate fulfillment, of the rising of her brother at the end. But it is about to come true in the immediate
as well. Jesus is going to the tomb and
Lazarus is going to be raised from the dead and restored to his family.
Now it is
interesting how the media can shadow our own conception of a biblical
story. For me, this story is shaded from
the movie “The Last Temptation of Christ”.
Willem Defoe played Jesus in this controversial portrayal of Jesus. I watched it because I knew people who took
away their understanding of Jesus in the gospel from what they saw in that
film. I took away a bit of that
myself. The raising of Lazarus is portrayed
in that film, but when Jesus brings him back, he is different. He is pale, withdrawn, sickly, a subtext that
restoring his life was not to who he was but to a shadow of his formal
self. He’s not a zombie exactly, but his
rising only fulfilled half of Jesus’ words.
“I am the resurrection.” That
power came to Lazarus. “And the life…”,
well, that part was subtly undercut.
It has
informed my vision of Lazarus as someone who came back from an invasive medical
procedure. He’s alive, but never quite
the same again. Except that is not how
Jesus does things. If divine power comes
down to overcome death, how vibrant and lustrous would the life of Lazarus
become in that moment?
Because that
is the other part of a Resurrection moment.
It is just too unwieldy to call it a ‘resurrection and life
moment’. The sun comes out after a
storm, the day dawns crisp and bright, we watch proudly as our child graduates
from college, our child is born, or our grandchild? Or a moment of relief, picking up your young
one after they have passed their driving test?
Life itself may not suddenly turn into all good, all the time, but there
is the reminder, that resurrection moment, where life is good and, if we are on
point, we will know that this is the gift of God.
The proof of
the power comes in the sinful, almost desperate imitation of seeking these high
points in life. Drugs, alcohol,
gambling, adrenalin spikes, all of those are attempts to reach for something
beyond ourselves or something to tamp down the effects of life to reach some
place of peace, if not joy. I am not so
naïve as to spout some nonsense like “just get high on life”. Addiction may begin as a choice, but it turns
into an illness. Resurrection moments
can happen for the alcoholic or junkie or other addict, not to cure them
because that is not how it works. But
those moments become the proof that God is still with them even in the depths
of their addiction.
And it is
true that moments of joy, whether high moments of pleasure or low moments of
tranquility, can be achieved by other means, they come at a cost, and they do
not last. And all too often, a bigger
“hit” is needed to get to that joyful or tranquil place again. What I see as resurrection moments, what I
see feeding us the joy of life in Christ, we need to keep eyes open to be ready
to receive them when they come, because they do. And we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, so
that we can be grateful to the Creator and Redeemer of our lives, or we might
just let those moments go as ‘happy accidents’.
Or miss them altogether.
You can be
in the middle of a busy day. If you are
into making ‘to do’ lists to manage the busyness, it is not too hard to come up
with enough to do through next weekend.
And the Lord does not forget us ‘out there’ in the busy world. We might be off our own schedule of reaching
out in prayer, of spending time in the word.
But then a moment comes. Maybe
you see a hummingbird for the first time where you have never seen a
hummingbird before. And it is a reminder
of the wonder of God’s creation, something so delicate, so…I don’t even know
the words. It’s a resurrection moment, a
reminder of life, a pause that can refresh us in the grace of knowing the power
and wonder of our Creator God. A simple
reminder of the power that drew Lazarus from the tomb. That brought Jesus back to us on Easter
morning. That God is always there,
reminding us when we are distracted.
Praise God’s Holy Name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and
earth, And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived of the
Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He
descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth
at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence He shall come to
judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and
life everlasting. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
THE OFFERING OF OUR TITHES & GIFTS
God has told us what is good; and what does the Lord require? To do justice,
love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. In gratitude, humility, and sacrifice,
let us return to God a portion of God’s gifts to us
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all
creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Holy God, thank you for entrusting us to
participate in your worldwide circle of caring. May the offering of the time,
talent and treasure that you have sewn in us bring you joy and bring our
neighbors comfort and hope. Show us how to use these gifts entrusted to us for
your glory and your dreams. Amen.
INVITATION
All
are welcome at God's table - at Christ's table - at this table.
People from near and far. Neighbors and strangers. Young and old. Rich and
poor. In whatever way you know the Christ, know you are invited to eat and
drink with him... and with us. Alleluia!
God
be with you.
And
also with you.
Lift
up your hearts.
We
lift them up to God.
Let
us give thanks to God, our God.
It
is right to give God thanks and praise.
We do say thank you, loving
God. We thank you for creating the heavens and the earth. We thank you for
being the source of all life and all creation - for sharing with us the tiniest
seed and the grandest stars... for creating us - with our tears and our
laughter, with our joy and our sorrow, with our curiosity and our thinking...
with our life. We thank you for Jesus, the Christ - for all that he learned
from you and in you, for all that he taught, for all that he shared with the
disciples, and all that he shares with us. Thank you, loving God!
Therefore, we praise you,
wonderful God, joining our voices to sing out the glory of your name!
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of Power, God of Might.
Heaven and Earth are full of your Glory!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!
THANKSGIVING
We rejoice that, through Eve and Adam and all of their
children, You entered into relationship with us. We rejoice that, through Sarah
and Abraham and all of their children, You entered into covenant with us. But we also remember that the covenant and
relationship with You has been broken, many times by our ancestors - and by us.
Each
time the covenant was broken, You invited us back! Through prophets and pastors
and wise ones, You invited us back! And still we broke faith with You. But, at
the right time, You sent Jesus to live with us.
Given
life by the Holy Spirit, given life by the decision and action of your favored
one, Mary, He came to share our life - to bring us back to each other and to
our covenant with you! At the Jordan River Your Spirit came upon him, calling
Him to tell the world the good news of your love. He healed people who were
sick and fed people who were hungry. He cried with those who mourned and danced
with those who celebrated. He looked for people who were lost and alone... and
helped them to understand that they were welcome at your table! He lived out
the fullness of your grace. We saw his holy love.
INSTITUTION
On the night before he was put to death, Jesus gathered with
his friends for a special meal. He took bread and gave thanks to you, O Lord. He
broke the bread and offered it to those gathered around him, saying, "Take
this and eat; this is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of
me."
Taking a cup, he once again gave thanks to you, and shared
the cup with those gathered, saying: "This is the cup of the new covenant
in my blood. Drink from this, all of you. This is poured out for you and for
many, for the forgiveness of sins."
After the meal, Jesus was arrested. His disciples and friends
ran away. He was beaten for what people thought he had said. He stood
trial... and was put to death on a cross. He gave all of himself to your
people, O God. His life and his death. Then you raised him from that death,
holy God - that he might be one with you, now and forevermore!
As
we remember his death, proclaim his resurrection, and look for His coming
again, we offer to you, O God, this bread and this cup. Send your Holy Spirit
upon us and upon these gifts, so that everyone who eats and drinks at this
table might be one in Christ's body... your holy people.
Through
Christ, with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory
is yours, God most holy, now and forever more!
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom
come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors. Lead us not into temptation but
deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory
forever. Amen.
Jesus Christ, the
bread of life. Jesus Christ, the true vine. The gifts of God, for the people of
God. Thanks be to God! Come, for the table is prepared and our cup is
overflowing.
SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
*CLOSING HYMN #513 “Let Us
Break Bread Together”
1. Let us break
bread together on our knees; Let us break bread together on our knees. When I
fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
2. Let us drink
wine together on our knees; Let us drink wine together on our knees. When I
fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
3. Let us praise
God together on our knees; Let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall
on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
*BENEDICTION
*THREE FOLD AMEN
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